Cost Accounting in Higher Education. Simplified Macro- and Micro-Costing Techniques.

This manual covers cost accounting applications and techniques as they apply to institutions of higher education, focusing mainly on the different methods of allocating costs. The manual covers four major costing topics: aggregate institution and systemwide costs; major academic and administrative program costs; academic and administrative activity-based costs; and indirect cost recovery. After an introductory chapter, individual chapters cover: (1) the four-tier full-cost matrix and institution-wide macro-costing; (2) cost centers and macro-cost charts of accounts used in higher education; (3) institution full costs of primary by-function programs under various allocation rules; (4) aggregate costing of major professional academic programs; (5) macro-costing of departments; (6) academic micro-costing and determining the full cost of a course; (7) costing of support activities (total-cost management, activity-based costing, and process-cost management); and (8) other costing topics and issues. There are approximately 100 figures throughout the text; some chapters have worksheet exercises; and most have notes. Appendixes A and B cover the range of precision in costing standards, and a hierarchy of primary and support activities. Appendix C summarizes provisions of Circular A-21, Office of Management and Budget, "Cost Principles for Educational Institutions." (CH)